Fastener for shoes, &amp;c.



No. s3s,|a4. Patented 0E1. 17,1899.

H. 9. PRICE.

FASTENER FOR SHOES, 8w.

(Application filed June 22, 1898.)

(No mddel.)

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NITED STATES ATEN Eric.

FASTENER FOR SHOES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,184, dated October1'7, 1899.

Application filed June 22, 1898. fierial No. 684,175. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY GREGG PRICE, a citizen of theUnitedStates,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Fasteners for Shoes, Gloves, Corsets, &c. of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a fastening for shoes,gloves, corsets, &c. that the two parts can be drawn together by asimple pull upon the lacing, and this object I attain in the mannerhereinafter set forth, referenee being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- T Figure l is a view of a shoe with fastening constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectionof said fastening; and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of parts of thefastening, showing features of construction not clearly indicated in theother views.

To each side or flap of the shoe-top, glove, corset, or other article ofapparel which is to be fastened I attach a hollow rib 1, having acontracted mouth or throat 2, this rib being secured to the leather orother fabric by sewing or otherwise and being, if desired, provided withperforated flanges or lugs for this purpose. The ribs may be of anydesired material possessing such flexibility as is demanded by the usefor which they are intended, and to each hollow rib are adapted theenlarged heads 4 of a series of studs 5, which have shanks swiveled ineyelets 6 or other suitable carriers secured to the lacing 7, the lattercrossing from rib to rib, as shown in Fig. 1. The studs 5 can thus turnin the eyelets of the lacing and can also slide longitu dinally alongthe hollow ribs 1. Hence if the shoe-flaps are separated a pull upon theupper ends of the lacing, tending to straighten the latter, will causethe pulling together of the hollow ribs and with them the opposite flapsof the shoe, the studs being prevented from leaving the hollow ribs byreason of their enlarged heads, but being free to slide longitudinallyalong the ribs as the lacing is drawn tight. After the flaps have beenthus drawn together the lacing may be secured by tying or by anysuitable form of clip or retainer.

While I prefer to use a doubled lacing having runs crossing each otherdiagonally, as shown, a lace having a single run carried back and forthfrom one rib to the other .may in some cases be all thatis necessary.The studs may also in some cases be secured to the lace instead of beingswiveled thereto, although thelatter construction is preferred. Thecenter portion of the lace has an eyelet 10, which is engaged by a hook11 or equivalent fastening secured to the shoe, so as to retain saidcentral portion of the lace in its proper position, as shown in Fig. 3,and the contracted mouth of each hollow rib is enlarged at the lower endof the rib, as shown at 12, for the insertion of the enlarged heads ofthe studs, a spring-tongue 13 closing said enlargement and beingdepressed by the heads of the studs as they are inserted, but thenspringing back to its normal position, so as to prevent the release ofthe studs from the rib. (See Fig. 4.)

I am aware that fastenings for shoes, gloves, corsets, and the like havebeen devised in which have been combined ribs or guides on the two partsto be drawn together, these ribs or guides engaging with studs carriedby a lazy-tongs structure consisting of links crossing each other andextending from part to part of the structure to be fastened, these linksbeing pivoted together at the crossingpoints. A lazy-tongs structure,however, is such that movement of any one part implies correspondingmovement of all other parts. Hence a connection of this character doesnot provide for local irregularities in the object to be covered, suchas would permit the connected parts to approach closer at one point thanat another. For instance, in the ease of a shoe the flaps can be drawnclosely together at their lower ends, but are apt to spread more or lessacross the instep, and then can be drawn closer together again at thetop, and it will be evident that the lazytongs structure will not permitof any such adjustment. In my fastening device, however, the portions ofthe lacing between the opposite parts of the object to be fastened aredisconnected from each other, and hence are free to assume any anglewhich the ap proach or separation of the opposite sides of the object tobe fastened may require. Hence the fastening device adapts itselfperfectly to any irregularity which may be met.

each having a contracted longitudinal mouth or throat enlarged at oneend, an elastic closure for said enlargement, studs having enlargedheads adapted to pass through the enlargement and to depress saidelastic closure and a lacing carrying said studs, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY GREGG PRICE.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. BECHTOLD, J 0s. H. KLEIN.

